(a) From 1993, figures refer to participation/attainment in courses leading to recognised qualifications only.(b) Data prior to 1994 are not strictly comparable to more recent data due to changes in scope and collection methodology. Community education providers were included in the collection in 1995, and private providers were included in 1996. (c) Prior to 1996, New Zealand students were counted as being overseas students.

Reference periods: Schools data are at July, except for 1991 and 1995-1998 (August). TAFE data comprise enrolments in the calendar year to 31 December. Higher education data are at 31 March from 1989; prior to that the reference date was 30 April. Data on participation rates are at May. Overseas student data are at 31 March. VET data are at 30 June.

ATTAINMENT

Units

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

With post-school educational qualifications (of all aged 15-64)

%

n.a.

39.2

39.7

40.8

41.7

39.1

39.0

41.0

42.3

40.4

41.9

Bachelor degree or higher

%

n.a.

7.9

8.4

9.0

9.6

10.1

11.5

11.9

12.8

13.6

14.3

Undergraduate or associate diploma

%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

9.0

8.6

9.1

8.8

7.7

7.9

Skilled or basic vocational qualification

%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

20.0

18.9

19.9

20.6

19.1

19.7

Did not complete highest level of secondary school (of all aged 15-64)

%

n.a.

39.6

37.4

36.0

34.3

37.3

37.6

36.0

34.7

36.3

34.1

Females-of all with post-school educational qualifications(a)

%

n.a.

41.8

42.4

43.0

43.6

42.6

44.0

44.0

44.1

44.6

45.1

Higher education students completing courses

'000

86.9

90.5

94.7

107.6

120.6

132.9

138.7

140.9

145.3

155.1

n.y.a.

(a) From 1993, figures refer to participation/attainment in courses leading to recognised qualifications only.

Reference periods: Data on educational attainment are at May. Higher education data are at 31 March from 1989; prior to that the reference date was 30 April. VET data are at 30 June.

EDUCATION & LABOUR FORCE

Units

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Unemployment rate

With bachelor degree or higher

%

n.a.

2.4

3.2

3.9

4.3

4.8

4.7

3.6

3.8

3.5

3.1

With undergraduate or associate diploma

%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

5.9

5.8

5.4

5.2

4.7

4.6

With skilled or basic vocational qualifications

%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

8.9

7.0

6.6

6.4

7.1

6.6

Without post-school qualifications(a)

%

n.a.

7.9

8.2

12.0

13.4

13.7

12.6

10.7

10.9

11.2

10.5

Trainees and apprentices

'000

156.3

163.9

172.8

160.2

151.9

137.5

131.1

135.8

158.0

175.4

195.5

(a) From 1993, figures refer to participation/attainment in courses leading to recognised qualifications only.

Reference periods: Data on unemployment rates and apprentices are at May.

EXPENDITURE

Units

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Total expenditure on education (of GDP)

%

r5.1

r5.0

r5.0

r5.4

r5.6

r5.6

r5.5

r5.4

r5.2

r5.4

n.y.a.

Government expenditure on education (of GDP)

%

r4.7

r4.4

r4.3

r4.7

r4.9

r4.9

r4.8

r4.7

r4.5

r4.6

n.y.a.

Government outlay on education

Primary and secondary

$'000m

8.4

9.4

9.9

10.7

11.6

12.0

12.2

12.5

13.0

13.9

n.y.a.

Tertiary

$'000m

4.6

4.7

5.0

5.9

6.4

6.9

7.1

7.6

7.6

8.1

n.y.a.

Reference periods: Expenditure data are for financial years.

RESOURCES

Units

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Schools

no.

10,054

10,036

10,007

9,980

9,957

9,865

9,679

9,648

9,630

9,609

9,587

Government schools

%

74.9

74.9

74.8

74.8

74.8

74.7

74.0

73.8

73.6

73.2

73.0

School student/teaching staff ratio

All students

ratio

15.3

15.3

15.3

15.4

15.3

15.3

15.5

15.4

15.4

15.3

15.3

Government school students

ratio

15.0

14.9

15.0

15.2

15.1

15.2

15.4

15.4

15.4

15.3

15.3

Primary students

ratio

18.5

18.7

18.4

18.5

18.4

18.4

18.5

18.1

18.1

17.9

17.9

Secondary students

ratio

12.6

12.6

12.4

12.5

12.4

12.4

12.6

12.6

12.7

12.7

12.7

Females - of all primary teachers

%

71.7

72.3

73.5

73.7

74.2

74.4

74.7

76.1

76.2

76.9

77.5

Females - of all secondary teachers

%

48.3

48.8

50.1

50.4

50.6

51.1

51.3

52.3

52.6

53.1

53.5

Females - of all higher education academic staff

%

27.3

27.8

30.1

30.8

31.9

32.6

32.8

33.5

34.1

34.4

35.1

Reference periods: Schools data are at July, except for 1991 and 1995-1998 (August). Higher education data are at 31 March from 1989; prior to that the reference date was 30 April.

Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.